Magnet operator structure



\ y 24, 1951 J. c. PONSTINGL 2,561,991

MAGNET OPERATOR STRUCTURE Filed July 22, 1948 M INVENTOR WITNESSES: W(10/212 6: Pogzsziny! Z20.

" at}? W 13/ ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 195i UNITED 1 PATENT OFF ICE 1MAGNET OPERATOR STRUCTURE I 'John 0. lonstingl. -Pittsburgh,-Pa,'assignor to Westinghouse filectricCorpol-ation, East Pittsburgh, 'Pa.,a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationJu ly .22, 1948, SerialN'o.404187 My invention relates to electromagnetically operable switches andmore particulariy to the supporting and operating elements forthemo'vable armature of such switches.

' .A broad object ofmy invention isthe provision of'a simple,rugged'reliable, and inexpensive operator for an electromagneticallyactuated device.

A still broader object of my invention is the provision of improvedoperator elements for an electromagnetic device as a switch. A morespecific object of my invention is the provision of an extremelyruggedand simple operator frame consisting of two identically shapedelements suitably secured to each other.

"Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from a study ofthe specification and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of one half of an operator 'for'anelectromagnetic device; g 1 Fig. 2 is a view from the rear of "thesubject matter shown in Fig. '1,

Fig; 3' is a top plan view of one'of the elements such-as shown in'F'ig.1;

Fig; 4' is a view from "below of the same type element shown'in I; IFig. 5 shows a side view of the elements, shown in Figs. '3 and '4, inassembled relation; Fig; 6 showsa viewlrom the rear of the sub jestmatter shown in Fig. '5) Fig. '7 shmvs'the bottoinportion' of Fig.6 invertical section; and

5- claims. (01. 74-479.)

"Fig; 8 shows the elements shown in Fig. '5 in assembled relation withthe other elements of a complete electromagile-tie switch operator;

in Fig. 8 of the drawing; I designates the base or control panel towhich my device, in use,'is secured. The E--shaped magnet 2 is providedwith a pair of heavy 'lam inati ons 8 on its outer snnfaces. Theselaminations are provided with flanges 4 at the rear for mounting themagnet 2 to. the '1. The magnet structure is so mounted on the base Ithat the open part ofthe E faces downwardlyethat-is, the legs 6, I and 8are directed down and with the stem "9 being disposed so as to projecthorizontally from the base;

The middle leg 1., or core, carries the energizi-ng coil 1.0 held inplace by friction or some sim-- ple readily displaceable coil holdingmeans. as

rectangular plate H... This plate 11 is provided with tabs, or tonguesl2 and 13 that project beyond the upper smrface'of the :stem 9. andthelower. surface of the armature It. These tabs are slightly under-cut atthe junction of the tab with the main portion of the rectangular plate.Theamonnt of under-cut is such that the frames {5 and in can not beremoved without compressthe springs H and 1'3 which are disposed'betweenthe tab 12 and projection I3l and tab I3 and projection 13 lrespectively.

The discussion of Fig. 8., and with reference to the elements from I tol8 inclusive, is merely first here given-to properly-show theenvironment of my invention, but does not disclose my inventionindetail. invention in this app'li cation is confined to the operatorframe that is aciniated by the "armature Hnpon' energization of 0011it).

'The operator :frame 211, shown complete and separate .fromiitsemdronment 'in use in Figs. 5'- snd 6, consists of two pieces 22 and 122spot Welded into a unitary rigid and simple frame by thesspot weldsrat-=54, Stand 57. Each of the pieces .22 and 122. "is-stamped'irot'nfiat mate rial by the use of a single die. The pieces, even aftercomplete shaping, are thus identical shape. a

As viewed from the side it will be noted that the piece 22 is generallyin'the shape of a -square c or a u disposed on "its side. The upper leg'24 is provided with :a .foot 25 disposed in the same plane as the leg,Zebu-t disposed at right angles to the leg 24.. The foot 215 is providedwithatoe 2e bent at. right angles to the foot 25 Further the toeisprovided an apertured forwardly directed projrectionlfi. 'I h-e par-tsto be actuated by the operator are secured to the proiecti'odll Thelower leg 28 is provided with a footie-dis posed the same plane as leg28 but disposed at right angles to the-leg 28. The foot 29is pro--video. with a toad!) bent at right angles to foot 29. The toe isprovided with a dove -tailed projection :31 protecting at right anglesto both the legZB and toe 3 0; I v

From some of the figures in the drawing; it will "be apparent that thepiece 122 is also gen erally in the shaneot asquare 0,01 a U disposedonitsside. The lower-leg 124 is provided with a foot {25 disposed in thesame plane as the leglzltl but disposed at right angles to the leg-1'24.The foot I25 .isprovi'ded with 'a toe F26 bent at right angles to thefoot I251; Further, the toe'iZli is provided with an apertured forwardlydirected? projection I21. Parts to be actuated'the op erator 2| may besecured to this projection.

The upper leg 1 2B is'provided with a foot 1'29 disposed in the sameplane as the leg 1% but 'd-is posed at right angles to the leg I28. Thefoot I29 is provided with a toe I bent at right angles to the foot I29.The toe I36 is provided with a projection I3I, in the shape of adove-tail, projecting at right angles to both the leg I28 and the toeI30.

In building my operator I take the pieces just described, retain'one. inthe'position shown in Fig. 2 and 'turn the second piece, while in theposition shown in Fig. 2, through an angle of 180 in a clockwisedirection and then interfit the parts as shown in Fig. 6. Duringstamping the toe 30 is provided with the two spaced pips 32 and 33 andthe toe 26 is provided with the.

holes 34 and 35. The toe I36 is similarly provided with pips I32 and I33and the toe I26 is similarly provided with the holes I34 and I35. Inassembling the two pieces 22'and I22, the pip 32 of piece 22 is made tofit into the opening, or hole, I of the piece I22jand the pip 33 ofpiece 22 is made to fit into the hole I34 of piece I22. Similarly, thepips I32 and I33 on the piece I22 are made to interfit with the holes 34and 35, respectively, on piece 22. These pips and holes thus provideguiding means to insure correct positioning or alignment of the twopieces 22 and I22 on each other. Assembly is thus facilitated by spotwelding at the pips, as indicated at 54, 55, 56 and 51, the rigidunitary structure shown in Fig. 6 is provided.

The operator 2| is then provided with the bearing sleeves 40 and M.These bearing sleeves provide the bearings for the armature I4.

A study of Figs. 6 and 8 will show that the assembled operator 2Iprovides the right-hand side or portion of a parallelogram constructionwith the plate I I forming the left-hand side. The frames I5 and I6 andthe springs I1 and I8 thus form the end portions of the parallelogramconstruction.

The tabs I2 and I3 have a construction, or shape, similar to theprojections 3I and I3 I. The frames I5 and I6 are generally in the shapeof a picture frame but with the end portions beveled inwardly. Theframes are thus latched in position when the springs I1 and I8 are inexpanded position as shown in Fig. 8.

To better understand the utility and function of the operator, referencemay be had to the structure and function of the parts associated withthe compression springs I1 and I8.

Since the compression spring I! is at its ends held in place by thebuttons I2 on the tab I2 and the projection I3I, respectively, it isapparent that the spring holds the frame I5 under. tension.

The compression spring I8, coacting similarly with the buttons I3 on thetab I3 and the projection 3I, respectively, holds the frame I8 undertension. since the tabs I2 and I3 are on the ends of the plate I I andthe bight portions of the pieces 22 and I22 are guided by the plate II,the operator is free to move vertically upon actuation of the armatureI4 by the energization of the coil I0. Suitable electric contacts, orswitch members may thus be actuated by the operator frame 2 I.

My invention is broader in scope than the single showing made. I,therefore, do not wish to be limited to the single showing made but wishto be limited only by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

I claim as my invention:

. 1. An operator frame for an electromagnetically actuated switch, incombination, a first side 4 member in the shape of a square 0, a firstfoot at the upper leg of the G, a second foot at the lower leg of the C,a first toe element projecting from the first foot, a second toe elementprojecting from the second foot, and a flat member projecting at rightangles from the second toe element, and a second side member like thefirst ,tur ned end fornd disposed ,the. first side 'member so that thefiat member'of the'first side member hooks over the second toe elementon the second side member and the flat member of the second side memberhooks over the first toe element on the first side member, one of saidtoe elements being provided with spaced projections and the toe elementdisposed in contiguous relation having holes spaced to receive theprojections whereby assembly of the side members is facilitated.

2. An operator frame for actuation by an armature of an electromagneticdevice, in combination, a flat one-piece first side member generally inthe shape of a square 0 thus having two legs, a foot at the end of eachleg, a first toe element disposed at right angles to one foot, a secondtoe element disposed at right angles to the other foot, a projectiondisposed at right angles to the second toe element, and a second sidemember like, the first side member disposed on the first side member sothat the first toe element of the second side member rests at the insidecorner formed bythe projection and second toe element on the first sidemember, and the first toe element on the first side member rests at theinside corner formed by the projection and second toe element on thesecond side member.

3. An operator frame for the elements to be operated by the movement ofan armature of an electromagnetic device, in combination, a first sidemember stamped from fiat sheet metal so as to be generally in the shapeof a square 0 to thus have an upper leg and a lower leg, 9. foot at theupper leg in the plane of the upper leg projecting upwardly from theupper leg, 9. foot at the lower leg in the plane of the lower legprojecting downwardly from the lower leg, a first toe element on theupper foot projecting at right angles from the plane of the foot, asecond toe element on the lower foot projecting at right angles from theplane of the foot, a projection on the second toe element projecting atright angles from the toe element at the edge nearer the bight of the o,and a-second side member like the first in every detail turned end forend on an axis falling in the plane of the side member disposed on thefirst side member so that the outside surface of the first toe elementof the first member is in contiguous relation to the inside surface ofthe second toe element of the second member, and the inside surface ofthe second toe element of the first member is in contiguous relation tothe outside surface of the first toe element of the second member, andmeans for securing the toe elements to each other, whereby the secondside member is se cured to the first side member.

4. An operator frame for the elements to be operated by the movement ofan armature of an electromagnetic device, in combination, a first sidemember stamped from fiat sheet metal so as .to be generally in the shapeof a square'c to thus have an upper leg and a lower leg, a foot at theupper leg in the plane of the upper leg projecting upwardly from theupper leg, a foot 5 at the lower leg in the plane of the lower legprojecting downwardly from the lower leg, a first toe element on theupper foot projecting at right angles from the plane of the foot, asecond toe element on the lower foot projecting at right angles from theplane of the foot, a projection on the second toe element projecting atright angles from the toe element at the edge nearer the bight of the 0,said toe element on the lower foot being provided with a pair ofupwardly directed spaced projections, said toe element on the upper footbeing provided with a pair of openings aligned and sized to match theprojections, and a second side member like the first in every detailturned end for end so that the bight of the C of the second side memberis beside the bight of the 0 of the first side memher and the two sidemembers fit onto each other so that the projections on one fit intothe-openings of the other.

5. An operator frame for the elements to be operated by the movement ofan armature of an electromagnetic device, in combination, a first sidemember stamped from fiat sheet metal so as to be generally in the shapeof a square 0 to thus have an upper leg and a lower leg, a foot anglesfrom the plane of the foot, a second side member, similar in structureto the first side member, disposed on the first side member so that thetop surface of the upper toe element of the first side member is incontiguous relation to the bottom surfaceof the top toe element of thesecond side member and the top surface of the bottom toe element of thefirst side member is in contiguous relation to the bottom surface of thebottom toe element of the second side memher, and means for rigidlysecuring the side mem here to each other at the contiguous surfaces ofthe toe elements.

' JOI-W C. PONSTINGL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,767 Wells Feb. 12, 18891,380,659 Layman June 7, 1921 1,675,219 Kent June 26, 1928 1,977,450Mitchell Oct. 16, 1934 2,162,356 Peek June 13, 1939 2,239,031 BierenfeldApr. 22, 1941 2,310,056 Bendz Feb. 2, 1943 2,328,945 Bierenfeld -r Sept.7, 1943 2,347,934 Christensen May 2, 1944 2,352,765 Bierenfeld July 4,1944 2,360,744 r Valkenburg Oct. 1'7, 1944

